Spring clip for railroad track structures or the like



1966 N. K. MOSES ETAL 3,269,656

SPRING CLIP FOR RAILROAD TRACK STRUCTURES OR THE LIKE Original Filed April 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. INVENTORs A4150 A. Mar-s 30, 1966 N. K. MOSES ETAL 3,269,656

SPRING CLIP FOR RAILROAD TRACK STRUCTURES OR THE LIKE Original Filed April 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fl/i zqia/v K fl/aszs 5 06156714 17 dim/q zm ww ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 Claims. (Cl. 238349) The present application is a divisional application of our application Serial No. 273,135, filed April 15, 1963 now Patent No. 3,223,328 dated December 14, 1965, and is entitled to the filing date thereof.

The present invention relates to an improved track structure and component parts thereof which is capable of supporting trains travelling at speeds in the order of 200 miles per hour.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved track structure and the component parts thereof which will not only serve to cushion impact loads of rolling stock, to thereby increase longevity of the track structure but will further provide a track structure capable of use with railway rolling stock travelling at speeds in the order of 200 miles per hour.

- An object of the present invention is to provide a track structure for high speed rolling stock in which all rocking motion and vibration is eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a track structure of the character described utilizing an improved spring steel rail clip for anchoring the rails to the rail supporting structure, the spring steel clip being so arranged as to reduce the tendency for the clip to fracture under repeated loads or for the clip to shear its hold-down bolt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spring steel rail clip for use with resilient rail seats, the clip having a bearing area of substantially the entire length of the rail seat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spring steel rail clip for rail track structures, the clip being capable of use with an armored or continuous insulated joint bar such as disclosed in the prior United States Patent No. 2,670,136, granted February 23, 1954, to Nelson K. Moses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved steel tie or rail plate for use with an improved steel rail clip, the tie or rail plate having means thereon cooperating with the rail clip to prevent movement of the rail clip laterally away from the rail and its resilient rail seat if such a seat is used.

Ancillary to the preceding object, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved steel rail plate having means thereon cooperating with the base flange of the rail, or with the resilient rail seat if such is used, to accurately position the rail plate and prevent the. same from any movement about a vertical axis during installation, thus eliminating anchoring bolts for the rail plate.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel track structure utilizing a resilient rail seat, spring steel rail clips, and a steel rail plate, the clips being arranged on opposite sides of the rail seats and cooperating with the rail plate to provide a wedging action on the rail seats to thereby more tightly hold the rail seat and rail on the rail plate.

Ancillary to the preceding object, the present invention provides a. track structure with a resilient rail seat which elastically absorbs the destructive force of shock Patented August 30, 1966 impact and vibration and a spring steel clip to dampen any remaining high frequency vibrations which would normally be transmitted into the hold-down bolt and rail foundation support thereby eliminating any rail creep, loose fastenings, working joints, and excessive maintenance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved track structure which costs no more to install per mile of track than previous rail structures utilizing wood ties, the time for installation being considerably less than the time for installation of heretofore conventional wood tie track structures.

Ancillary to the preceding object, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a track structure, which though permanent in nature, may be quickly and easily disassembled and removed and reused.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully in the following specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partly in section and illustrating the anchoring of the traction rail to elongated precast prestressed concrete beams;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a spring steel rail clip of the present invention in its free state;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the spring steel rail clip of FIGURE 2 in the bolted down position in full lines and in its free state in broken lines;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of spring steel rail clips having an enlarged or elongated lip in its plan elevation;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a still further modification of the spring steel rail clip adapted for use with an armored or insulated rail plate;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the steel tie or rail plate illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE '7 is a perspective view of a modification of the steel rail plate of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and in particular to FIGURE 1, there is shown a railroad track structure mounted on an elongated concrete beam or other support indicated generally by the reference numeral 14. The beams 14 have an upper surface 30 which may be provided with a 1 inch in 40 inch cant or other, if desired. The side walls 32 of the beams slope downward and outwardly from the top surface 30. If the beams are to be used for railroad use they have a vertical height of 16 inches whereas if the beams are to be used in an urban rapid transit system they have a vertical height of 8 inches. Normally, the lateral dimension or width of the upper surface of beams 14 is 14 /2 inches whereas the lateral dimension or width of the bottom surface is 24 inches.

The upper surface 30 of each of the elongated beams 14 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 68 (FIGURE 1). Each of the recesses 68 receives a resilient pad 70 and at least a portion of a steel rail plate 72. For example, the recess 68, which usually extends laterally across the upper surface 30 of the beam 14 and which has an 8 inch length has a depth of approximately a quarter of an inch. When an eighth inch thick pad 70 and a /8 inch thick rail plate 72 are positioned in the recess 68, the rail pad has at least an eighth of an inch of its thickness support within the recess 68. v

The steel rail plate 72 as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, is provided with upturn flanges 74 and 76 struck from its outer longitudinal edges. The plate 72 is provided with holes 7 8 for receiving mounting bolts 81 which may be of the expander type or other. The bolts 80 hold the plate 72 and the pad 70 in position on the upper surface 30 of the beams 14. There are a plurality of such pads 70 and plates 72 positioned along the length of the beams 14, for example about every ten inches.

The traction rail 18 is supported on the steel plates 72 on beams 14 by resilient rail seats 82 each having a rail flange base receiving cavity 84. The portions of each resilient rail seat 82 which extend over the upper surface of the rail base flange 20 are provided with an outwardly facing groove 86 (FIGURE 3) for receiving the lip 88 of a spring steel clip 90.

The spring steel clip 90, shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, has its lip portion 88 extending upwardly in its free state at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the horizontal as shown in the broken lines of FIGURE 3. The lip portion 88 extends from an upper body portion 92 of the clip which is provided with a bolt hole 94 therethrough. A curved portion 96 extends downwardly from the upper body portion 92 and revcrsely therefrom and is connected to a lower body or flat base portion 98. The flat base portion 98 is provided with a bolt hole 100 which is aligned axially with the bolt hole 94 in the upper body portion 92. An upwardly extending portion 102 connected to the flat base portion 98 is provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending flange 104. When the spring steel clip 90 is bolted down by a bolt 108, the flange 104 'has a length sufficient to permit its free edge 105 to abut the shank 106 of the bolt 108 extending through the bolt holes 94 and 100 and into the beam 14. It will be noted that the upwardly extending portion 102 extends from the base portion 98 outwardly of the clip 90 at an angle of approximately degrees to the vertical. Further, it will be noted that in the free state of the clip 90 the upper surface of the inwardly turned flange 104 is spaced from the lower surface of the upper body portion 92. When the clip is fastened to the beam 14, on the upper surface of the rail plate 72, with its lip extending into the groove 86 of the rail seat 82, the bolt 108, which may be an expander type of bolt, is drawn down so as to move the clip from the dotted line position of FIGURE 2 to the rail position of FIGURE 6. It is important to note that the upper surface of the inwardly turned flange abuts against the lower surface of the upper body portion 92 and that the inner free edge of the flange 104 engages the shank 106 of the bolt 108. By having the flange engage the shank 106 of the bolt 108 there is in effect twice the thickness of clip 90 engaging the bolt as the portion of the bolt which extends through the hole 94 is also engaging the clip. It has been found that by such a construction, the shearing action of the clip on the bolt 108 is materially reduced. Also, by having the curved portion 96 extending well outwardly of the shank 106 of the bolt 108, it being abutted by the upturned flange 74 of the steel plate 72, there is less chance of fatigue in the clip at the point of reversed curvature of the same. When one clip 90 is used on one side of a rail and another clip 90 is used on the other side of the rail as shown in FIGURE 1, the slope of 5 degrees provided on the upwardly extending portion 102 ensures a wedging action against the rail seat 82 and base flange 20 of the traction rail 18.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a modification of the clip shown in FIGURE 2 is disclosed. The clip 90' is identical to the clip 90 with the exception that the upwardly extending lip 88 as viewed in plan has a width greater than the width of the upper body portion 92 and the lower base portion 98. The lip 88' has a width so that when it is inserted into the groove 86 of the resilient rail seat 82 it will extend along substantially the entire length of the rail seat and thereby provides a better seating or clamping action along the entire r-ail seat.

FIGURE 5 discloses a still further modification of spring steel clips. The spring steel clip 90" is shown with a lip 88" which extends from the upper body portion 92 downwardly, the lip 88" terminating outwardly of the upwardly extending portion 102. The clip 90" is especially adapted for use in armored or insulated joint bars 4 such as disclosed in the aforementioned United States Moses Patent No. 2,670,136, and is adapted to have the edge portion of the free end of the lips 88" engage the outwardly extending flanges on the joint bars of the armored or insulated joint.

FIGURE 7 discloses a modified form of steel plate 72' which is provided with the previously described upturned flanges 74 and 76. In addition, the steel plate 72 which is received on the pad 70 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed upturned flanges 110 and 112 which are positioned inwardly of the flanges 74 and 76 and which have a distance between themselves equal to the maximum width of the rail seat 82. *By providing the upturned flanges 110 and dill, the steel plate 72' is held in position within the recess 68 of the beam 14 without the necessity of hold down bolts as the flanges and 112 receive the rail base flange and resilient rail seat therebetween. The flanges 74 and 76 of the cruciform type of steel plate 72' serve the same functions as the flanges 74 and 76 of the plate 72 in that they abut the outer curve portion 96 of the clip 90.

Throughout the specification, the pad 70 and the rail seat 82 have been referred to as resilient. Such components of the track structure are preferably made of a primary ingredient of natural rubber having the usual fillers, accelerators, catalysts and a secondary ingredient of neoprene. While it is preferable that the material for these component parts be 70% natural rubber and 30% neoprene, it is also within the scope of the present invention to make such components of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or other elastomeric materials.

As is now apparent, the present invention provides a new and novel type of track structure and component parts therefore which fully satisfies the advantages and objects of the invention heretofore described in the specification and disclosed in the drawings. However, certain modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the terminology used in the specification is for the purposes of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spring steel rail clip for use in anchoring a traction rail having a base flange to a supporting structure, said clip, having a lip portion for operatively engaging the base flange of the traction rail, an upper body portion having a bolt hole therein and connected to the lip portion, a curved portion extending downwardly and reversely from and connected to the upper body portion, a flat base portion connected to said curved portion and having a hole therein aligned with the hole in the upper body portion, an upwardly extending portion connected to the end of the flat base portion, said upwardly extending portion having an inwardly extending flange thereon, said flange having a length suflicient to abut the shank of a bolt extending through said bolt holes when said clip has its lip portion and upper body portion bolted down from a free state.

2. The rail clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the upwardly extending portion from said base extends at an angle to the vertical in the order of 5 degrees.

3. A rail clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said inwardly extending flange has an upper surface adapted to abut the lower surface of the upper body portion when the clip is bolted down from the free state.

4. A rail clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said lip has a width in plan elevation greater than the width of the upper body portion and base portion whereby it can operatively extend along a portion of the length of the base flange of the traction rail.

5. A rail clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said lip ex- 1 3,269,656 5 6 of 20 degrees and wherein said lip has a deflection downand above the flat base, said lip being adapted to have its wardly at an angle in the order of 6 degrees when said end operatively engage the base flange of the traction rail.

clip is bolted down from the free state.

6. A rail clip as claimed in claim 1 in which said lip No referen ceS clted' extends downwardly from said upper body portion and 5 ARTHUR LA POINT, m y m terminates outwardly of the upwardly extending portion R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPRING STEEL RAIL CLIP FOR USE IN ANCHORING A TRACTION RAIL HAVING A BASE FLANGE OF A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, SAID CLIP, HAVING A LIP PORTION FOR OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE BASE FLANGE OF THE TRACTION RAIL, AN UPPER BODY PORTION HAVING A BOLT HOLE THEREIN AND CONNECTED TO THE LIP PORTION, A CURVED PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND REVERSELY FROM AND CONNECTED TO THE UPPER BODY PORTION, A FLAT BASE PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID CURVED PORTION AND HAVING A HOLE THEREIN ALIGNED WITH THE HOLE IN THE UPPER BODY PORTION, AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION CONNECTED TO THE END OF THE FLAT BASE PORTION, SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE THEREON, SAID FLANGE HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO ABUT THE SHANK OF A BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BOLT HOLES WHEN SAID CLIP HAS ITS LIP PORTION AND UPPER BODY PORTION BOLTED DOWN FROM A FREE STATE. 